CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – Big Chicken is all the chat in Chatt! Bringing a jolt of Shaquille O’Neal-inspired BIG Fun that matches the energy and excitement of Chattanooga, Big Chicken is set to open in high-profile downtown digs at Broad and 4th Streets (410 Broad St.). The new location pairs perfectly with the liveliness of the neighborhood, and it is arriving with a BIG opening celebration. On Monday, April 15, the first 34 fans* in line will have the chance to score a BIG deal: free Big Chicken food and drinks for a year, limited to $10 a week. The downtown opening is the second in the Greater Chattanooga area this year. Chattanooga’s own, Jim Richards, an accomplished restaurateur and executive within the QSR industry, along with his successful partners, Brion Voges, Andrew Gardner, and Bruce Bowman, signed a 10-unit franchise agreement with Big Chicken for the Chattanooga, Knoxville, and Nashville markets. They will soon make a BIG entry into Nashville after recently signing their first lease in the area.
“Our roots run deep in Chattanooga. My business partners, Brian and Andrew, grew up here, and my family and I have served the community through our restaurants for nearly two decades. That’s why it was so important to us to launch Big Chicken here, where I know people will love our southern-inspired flavors and hospitality,” said Richards, who currently oversees the operations of 13 Five Guys restaurants in Tennessee and Georgia as well as Fiamma Pizza Co. “We opened BIG in Hixson and every day since excitement has been building in the area for this new location.”
Remarkably, in less than three years of franchising the brand, Big Chicken has a BIG list of 350 locations in development nationwide and more than 30 locations open in traditional and non-traditional restaurant settings. Big Chicken fuses O’Neal’s home-cooked childhood favorites with today’s trending flavors. Offerings at the Chattanooga location will include The Original Big Chicken sandwich (Shaq Sauce and pickles), Uncle Jerome’s Nashville Hot (Nashville Hot Chicken, lettuce, mayo and pickles), and The Ultimate (mac & cheese, crispy fried onions and roasted garlic BBQ aioli), along with the crispy crinkle cut fries and delicious ice cream milkshakes.
“Jim and I have been imagining this opening for months,” said Josh Halpern, CEO of Big Chicken. “We toured the location together, right in the heart of the city. I love that this is the group to make Shaquille’s vision of Big Flavor and Big Fun a pillar in Downtown Chattanooga and beyond.”
To learn more about Big Flavor. Big Food. Big Fun. in Chattanooga, visit www.bigchicken.com/chattanooga-tn.
*A nod to O’Neal’s iconic jersey number that was retired in 2012
About Big Chicken
Founded in 2018, Big Chicken is backed by a dream team of partners; JRS Hospitality, an accomplished Las Vegas-based ownership group; Authentic Brands Group, a multi-national, multi-billion-dollar brand development, marketing and entertainment company; and Hall of Fame basketball star Shaquille O’Neal. Big Chicken fuses O’Neal’s home-cooked childhood favorites with today’s trending flavors. From crispy chicken sandwiches and tenders to Cheez-It® crusted mac n’ cheese and hand-crafted ice cream shakes, each menu item tells a story all while offering guests an inside look into the life and personality of Shaquille O’Neal. With 18 traditional locations currently open and several in the development pipeline, Big Chicken is prepped to begin U.S. and international expansion through franchising.
To learn more about Big Chicken, visit www.bigchicken.com.
About Shaquille O’Neal
Shaquille O’Neal is one of the world’s most successful athlete-turned-businessmen, whose accomplishments both on and off the court have translated into a highly sought-after consumer brand. As an entrepreneur, sports analyst, DJ, restaurateur, and brand ambassador, Shaquille O’Neal’s signature “Business of Fun” mantra resonates throughout each of his countless endeavors.
The 15-time NBA All-Star’s unprecedented athletic career spanned nearly two decades and earned him countless awards and honors, including NBA Most Valuable Player, NBA Rookie of the Year, four NBA Championships and a First Ballot NBA Hall of Famer. Currently, O’Neal is an analyst on TNT’s Emmy Award-winning “Inside the NBA.”
O'Neal, who has a PhD in Leadership and Education, established The Shaquille O’Neal Foundation which provides resources for underserved youth. He also gives back through a number of annual philanthropic programs including Shaq to School, Shaqsgiving, and Shaq a Claus.
The launch of his Las Vegas eatery Big Chicken has further elevated Shaquille’s status as he has positioned himself as a successful restaurateur. The brand currently has sites open in Las Vegas, Glendale, CA, two Carnival Cruise Ships (Mardi Gras and Radiance), Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, UBS Arena in New York with many more locations under development.
Follow Shaquille O’Neal on TikTok, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
About Authentic Brands Group
Authentic Brands Group (Authentic) is a global brand development, marketing and entertainment platform, which owns a portfolio of more than 40 iconic and world-renowned Lifestyle, Entertainment and Media brands. Headquartered in New York City, with offices around the world, Authentic connects strong brands with best-in-class partners and a global network of operators, distributors and retailers to build long-term value in the marketplace. Its brands have an expansive retail footprint, including more than 9,100-plus freestanding stores and shop-in-shops in more than 150 countries and generate approximately $24 billion in global annual retail sales.
Authentic is committed to transforming brands by delivering powerful storytelling, compelling content, innovative business models and immersive experiences. It creates and activates original marketing strategies to drive the success of its brands across all consumer touchpoints, platforms and emerging media. Authentic’s brand portfolio includes Marilyn Monroe®, Elvis Presley®, Muhammad Ali®, Shaquille O'Neal®, David Beckham®, Dr. J®, Greg Norman®, Neil Lane®, Thalia®, Sports Illustrated®, Reebok®, Eddie Bauer®, Spyder®, Volcom®, Airwalk®, Nautica®, Izod®, Brooks Brothers®, Barneys New York®, Judith Leiber®, Ted Baker®, Hervé Léger®, Frye®, Juicy Couture®, Vince Camuto®, Lucky Brand®, Aéropostale®, Forever 21®, Nine West®, Jones New York®, Tretorn®, Prince®, Van Heusen®, Arrow®, Hickey Freeman®, Hart Schaffner Marx® and Thomasville®.
For more information, visit authentic.com.
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